1. < Joint Replacements

Scar tissue after knee replacement

Posted by leithlane @leithlane, Jan 31, 2017

I had knee replacement surgery 6 weeks ago . Through PT I have been working on breaking up the scar tissue only for it to regrow by the time I get back to PT two days later. I have been massaging at home, using a hand held massager and roller. It is painful and swollen. I am getting very disheartened. Any suggestions as to what else I can do. Has anyone had laser treatments to break up scar tissue? Were they effective?

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kneeproblem | @kneeproblem | Mar 3, 2019
In reply to @dsoda "Hi, I'm 44 I just had a makoplasty, a partial knee replacememt on my left knee,..." + (show)
@dsoda

Hi, I'm 44 I just had a makoplasty, a partial knee replacememt on my left knee, I cant get it to bend past 70 degrees and its 2 and a half weeks out of surgery, I've been reading posts and it seems like some people make scar tissue more than others. Is there a way to fond out if that is the problem?
My surgeon said at the 5 week mark if I cant move it to 90 degrees he will put me under and manipulate it, that scares me though...

What is that like? Is it painful? Can you continue moving it when you wake up? Will you just make more scar tissue ?

I should be more aggressive at home but it hurts, it does not want to bend, the pain upon bending is enormous and then straightening it out is bad.

I can straighten my knee to negative 4 degrees which they tell me is good, it's just the bending that has me in a panic.

** also how mong does it take to be able to passively bend the knee ...? They can push it painfully to 80 degrees but I cant just sit down at 70 or 80 I sit at like 40 or 60 degrees.

Also how long till I'm off I'm Walker?

ANY advice help or stories or explanations would be so grateful. I am terrified i made a mistake by doing this surgery and now I'll never bend my knee or be in constant pain or jave multiple surgeries.

I really cant go through another SURGERY

Thanks,

Deb

Jump to this post

The knee manipulation isn't that bad you are a sleep there is no cutting it is sore for a day or so but not to bad . But mine only worked for a few days then right back to being swollen and painful

REPLY
LKinNY | @lkinny | Mar 3, 2019
In reply to @dsoda "Hi, I'm 44 I just had a makoplasty, a partial knee replacememt on my left knee,..." + (show)
@dsoda

Hi, I'm 44 I just had a makoplasty, a partial knee replacememt on my left knee, I cant get it to bend past 70 degrees and its 2 and a half weeks out of surgery, I've been reading posts and it seems like some people make scar tissue more than others. Is there a way to fond out if that is the problem?
My surgeon said at the 5 week mark if I cant move it to 90 degrees he will put me under and manipulate it, that scares me though...

What is that like? Is it painful? Can you continue moving it when you wake up? Will you just make more scar tissue ?

I should be more aggressive at home but it hurts, it does not want to bend, the pain upon bending is enormous and then straightening it out is bad.

I can straighten my knee to negative 4 degrees which they tell me is good, it's just the bending that has me in a panic.

** also how mong does it take to be able to passively bend the knee ...? They can push it painfully to 80 degrees but I cant just sit down at 70 or 80 I sit at like 40 or 60 degrees.

Also how long till I'm off I'm Walker?

ANY advice help or stories or explanations would be so grateful. I am terrified i made a mistake by doing this surgery and now I'll never bend my knee or be in constant pain or jave multiple surgeries.

I really cant go through another SURGERY

Thanks,

Deb

Jump to this post

@dsoda Many on this site know more than I do especially about MUA ... but isn't that kind of fast to go to a MUA? 2.5 weeks is SO so early in this process. Are you in frequent PT 2 or 3 times a week and doing heel slides in bed and other gradual exercises 3-4 times a day? It's so key to do frequent movement and exercises at home. I took real pain killers to make the exercise less painful. And you're icing a lot? Good luck.

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Mar 3, 2019
In reply to @gator1965 "I am nearly 11 months out from total knee replacement, I am 96 degrees flexion. I..." + (show)
@gator1965

I am nearly 11 months out from total knee replacement, I am 96 degrees flexion. I long to be over 100 degrees.....and beyond. I have so much pain

Jump to this post

@gator1965 That must be so discouraging to be in pain still after 11 months. What does your doctor say about that? I was in pain for about 6 weeks following my TKR in October 2017 and my doctor was seeing me frequently until the pain resolved. I have no idea what he planned to do if it did not, but he did appear to be concerned that I still had considerable pain at that point. Thankfully it lifted quite suddenly at about 6 weeks and less than two weeks later I was walking all over the place, comfortably. If your doctor is not concerned, I would get a consult with a different ortho surgeon.
JK

REPLY
2 replies
dkapustin | @dkapustin | Mar 4, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@gator1965 That must be so discouraging to be in pain still after 11 months. What does..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@gator1965 That must be so discouraging to be in pain still after 11 months. What does your doctor say about that? I was in pain for about 6 weeks following my TKR in October 2017 and my doctor was seeing me frequently until the pain resolved. I have no idea what he planned to do if it did not, but he did appear to be concerned that I still had considerable pain at that point. Thankfully it lifted quite suddenly at about 6 weeks and less than two weeks later I was walking all over the place, comfortably. If your doctor is not concerned, I would get a consult with a different ortho surgeon.
JK

Jump to this post

Very good and intelligent advice.

REPLY
gator1965 | @gator1965 | Mar 4, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@gator1965 That must be so discouraging to be in pain still after 11 months. What does..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@gator1965 That must be so discouraging to be in pain still after 11 months. What does your doctor say about that? I was in pain for about 6 weeks following my TKR in October 2017 and my doctor was seeing me frequently until the pain resolved. I have no idea what he planned to do if it did not, but he did appear to be concerned that I still had considerable pain at that point. Thankfully it lifted quite suddenly at about 6 weeks and less than two weeks later I was walking all over the place, comfortably. If your doctor is not concerned, I would get a consult with a different ortho surgeon.
JK

Jump to this post

I have been discharged by the orthopaedic surgeon in December and the physio last week. Sadly no one seems interested in the on going pain, so probably I just need to learn to live with it. Even my GP, seems to be happy to prescribe repeat prescriptions for baclofen and amitriptyline. So I guess that I need to wait to see if the pain resolves?

REPLY
1 reply
babette | @babette | Mar 4, 2019

@gator1965 I'm upset that you feel the need to resign to "ongoing pain" and "living with it." Even though my surgeon has a great reputation, I sometimes feel as though surgeons think their job is over once the operation is over. And, I'm upset because I'm where you are and am contemplating my next move. I think when I see my surgeon next I'm simply going to state "We need to get to the bottom of why I'm still in pain." What do you think would happen if you said that to your doc/s? I really, really empathize! P.S. I'm 7 months out.

REPLY
dkapustin | @dkapustin | Mar 4, 2019

You also have the option of getting a second opinion.

REPLY
1 reply
bonzobear72 | @bonzobear72 | Mar 4, 2019
In reply to @dsoda "Hi, I'm 44 I just had a makoplasty, a partial knee replacememt on my left knee,..." + (show)
@dsoda

Hi, I'm 44 I just had a makoplasty, a partial knee replacememt on my left knee, I cant get it to bend past 70 degrees and its 2 and a half weeks out of surgery, I've been reading posts and it seems like some people make scar tissue more than others. Is there a way to fond out if that is the problem?
My surgeon said at the 5 week mark if I cant move it to 90 degrees he will put me under and manipulate it, that scares me though...

What is that like? Is it painful? Can you continue moving it when you wake up? Will you just make more scar tissue ?

I should be more aggressive at home but it hurts, it does not want to bend, the pain upon bending is enormous and then straightening it out is bad.

I can straighten my knee to negative 4 degrees which they tell me is good, it's just the bending that has me in a panic.

** also how mong does it take to be able to passively bend the knee ...? They can push it painfully to 80 degrees but I cant just sit down at 70 or 80 I sit at like 40 or 60 degrees.

Also how long till I'm off I'm Walker?

ANY advice help or stories or explanations would be so grateful. I am terrified i made a mistake by doing this surgery and now I'll never bend my knee or be in constant pain or jave multiple surgeries.

I really cant go through another SURGERY

Thanks,

Deb

Jump to this post

I'm not sure on recovery for a partial but I just had my second total knee replacement done. 70 degrees at 2 weeks is fantastic. Allow yourself to heal and do the therapy. It's a process and with patience you will be happier. Everybody is different on healing and moving off a walker. I took my cane to therapy with my walker and told them it's time. I was at my 2nd week appt. My therapist (s) follow your lead on that. If your gait is good and you can support your weight it's a good time to ask about the cane. I cried every day at my 3-wk mark, begging the God's to take the surgery back. They ignored me and within 3 mths I had my life back, pain free and never regretted it. You got this!

REPLY
gator1965 | @gator1965 | Mar 5, 2019
In reply to @dkapustin "You also have the option of getting a second opinion." + (show)
@dkapustin

You also have the option of getting a second opinion.

Jump to this post

That is a bit difficult when I paid privately to have the surgery. I cannot afford to have a second opinion, the initial surgery cost £12k

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Mar 5, 2019
In reply to @gator1965 "I have been discharged by the orthopaedic surgeon in December and the physio last week. Sadly..." + (show)
@gator1965

I have been discharged by the orthopaedic surgeon in December and the physio last week. Sadly no one seems interested in the on going pain, so probably I just need to learn to live with it. Even my GP, seems to be happy to prescribe repeat prescriptions for baclofen and amitriptyline. So I guess that I need to wait to see if the pain resolves?

Jump to this post

@gator1965 Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I think if you are still in pain the surgeon has an obligation to try to diagnose what is causing it. Unfortunately, I see that a second opinion is not feasible economically. At eleven months out it seems to me like it should be much, much better than you indicate.
I wish I could say something more but it sounds as if for now you are in a very tough position since you don't have insurance.
I hope you manage to come up with some options that will allow you to move forward and get some help with your pain.
JK

REPLY
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